Are cars actually getting better as the years go on?

[anonymous-user]

An age old discussion, but the constant slanging of models like the Qashqai got me thinking.

I drove a 2015 Qashqai for a day and it was very nice to drive, comfortable (leather seats) and it was loaded with tech.

Then I had a few days in a CR-V AWD which was another very good car, lovely seats and a decent steering feel.

Now I’ve got a 2018 Murano for a week and it’s a great car. I was supposed to get a Hellcat from Turo but at $375/day and 1000km cap the Murano at $50/day from Enterprise with nav upgrade, damage waiver, unlimited miles and being able to drop it off wherever was a much better proposition. A Quattroporte is waiting when I return the Murano . The Murano which I was previously slagging off left me seriously thinking about p/x my IS300h for a good spec Qashqai (because there is no UK Murano) next. It does the job and it left me seriously impressed.


The Murano got me thinking - PH’ers claim that “x modern car” is the worst thing since deep fried butter but really? I would much rather be in a 3008 than a Talbot Samba. I’ve also driven a 3008 and it was fine to drive and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. The interior felt solid and premium and it had all the bells and whistles as standard.

The worst car I’ve ever driven was a LDV Convoy - it was shockingly st. By comparison a new Transit or Sprinter is leagues ahead.

Can we just come to a conclusion that modern cars are not all about no driving aids and 0-60 times - today’s cars are the cream of the crop. Next decade’s cars will be too, and so on.

[anonymous-user]

This fits in with my thinking that nowadays there’s no such thing as a “bad car”. They all start every day without fail, they will all do motorway speeds, they all have aircon, electric windows, good mpg, are pretty safe in a crash, they’re put together ok, most have soft touch plastics etc etc etc.

There are however cars which I wouldn’t be seen dead in, or wouldn’t spend money on. It just boils down to taste.

Cars nowadays are infinitely better than they were. I think cars started getting “good” in the modern sense of the word in about 1995. I.e. all of my above criteria started appearing in even the least desirable cars. Before 1995, the difference between a good car and a st car was absolutely huge. Today that difference is mainly in refinement, and not whether it is reliable or not.